The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1887-01-19
rAg ayoopoo aAe.sg oaARMs.
rhs sdpsr..ltious but nlImitable raith
81 the NeEroes IN Tlslf virtue.

The snpststItious but uIImitable Faith
6f the Negroes IN Their Virtue.
A yoodoo bag is an amulet which calls
up and impresses in its dep significance
the superstitious fears, breads and hopes
of the southern negro. It's his guard
against all Ills of flesh and fortune. In
appearance a voodoo bag Is q fiat, rough.
ly made pouch of cotton cloth. Stitched
by unskilled hands, its edges are uneven
and raw. From being suspended around
the neck in its contact with the skin for
365 days of the year, and, in the case of
the one which was seen by reporter
for twenty-eight years, the surfaces had
become begrimed and greasy. A cord
of cotton fudely klotted held the charm
IN position and was like it soiled from
age.
It was with some feeling and only in
response to repeated and eager inquiry
that the lucky possessor of the charm. q
negro roustabout, who for many years,
Sence befo' de wal1, . had been working
on the river, consented to allow its exc
animation. He would not part with It
under any consideration.
Without any difficulty the pouch was
opened at the top and an inventory of
the contents made. A wisp of hair much
resembling that used by plasterers, which
it was finally decided was from dogs
back, came first. closely followed by a
lock which had seen service as the cover
ing of a cat before it became part of the
protector. A little deeper and chicken g
feather, rumpled by contact with piece
of rusty hail and long; sharp tooth,
which had place In the amulet, was
pulled out. A small piece of paper such
as one would get by tearing off one cor
ner of newspaper, devoid of marks by
pen or pencil, concluded the inventory,
and when each was replaced, the strings
readjusted and reswung to its place on
the breast of the owner, the charm was
to all appearances as good as If it had
Just left the hands of its maker. Simply
these and nothing more could be found
in the bag.
Nor were there any evident signs of
arrangement. Rather it seemed the
whole had been jumbled together with
out thought, the doctor being out of a
supply of the other ingredients some
times found in the amulets.
Deed, boss, Use reason to know do
charms all rite. could tell ye of many
times it's saved me. Dar's wunst when
was at Louisville, three of us niggers
was runnin' along the gunnel of a barge
when de line we was carryin' got cbtched
and bof de man in front and de man he
hind me fell into de rivah and war
drowned'd. Use been through lots a.
sech things and always cum out rite
Whar did I git it. OATS way back in
Mis'sippi. When 1 war chile I wuz
sick1y, and my dad got il fob to make
me we'll Use never been rite sick
sense
such is the faith, superstitious but IL
limitable, that has taken possession of
the minds of those of tho eolored race
who from childhood up have heard such
Things spoken of in solemn whispers. in
the half light OF a cabin in the evening,
or preached by an old m Inan-s.l,sse :, .l. ;.-e
~ -, was IliAeo with meta
pIe. ,-i,;ct, lar,a "i.n irrip,e eNanl-
creen cree to I,;s % nat .rd aGe G sne Ilckan.nny y,
,ioI,t tI,;ni-;,,,r s,e a. "dA iiai, the
e. :. ~. - W u NAV ne mas heard
n colored man ,.ho " Iiea, Oh
the yoofloo ba,;sf. W;th a. =. 9..!as lneaenes
of tbe masses = hos H. asn Sne suucalloh
stoned 70 tb,, th. IL .Ie,.,.. VI zen coIi-
colonies whore ;ts I,aI;o'.s..,. VI liie
fear of detact;o,, r. az. .s aIe ever IN
lineage ,,oes bacl - ~. "nuse ~, J.
came fro1, Afr;c, ~. ;saiause:'N aees1or VINO
stition is more nredon,;nant S super
see and Ila,;ave o. +,,osa f,,m. AS as ne can can.